Hydraulic ram mountings for earth moving machines



HYDRAULIC RAM MOUNTINGS FOR EARTH MOVING MACHINES Filed Dec. 51, 1954 G. S- ALLIN Jan. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- GEORGE S. ALLIN I BY P 1 I ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1959 G. s. ALLlN 2,867,922

HYDRAULIC RAM MOUNTINGS FOR EARTH MOVING MACHINES Filed Dec. 31. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4 IN VEN TOR. GEQRGE 5. ALL IN BY/CAMQQPI-I ATTORNEY 2,867,922 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 HYDRAULIC RAM MOUNTINGS FOR EARTH MOVING MACHINES George S. Allin, 'Flossmoor; Ill., assignor to International Harvester 'Cornpany,'a corporation of New Jersey Application December 31, 1954; SerialNo;-,479,100

Claims. (Cl.'37'--:144)

This invention relates. generally. to angledozers, and

. more specifically, to .an'improvedzgimbjal. arrangement gimbal arrangement for. a hydraulic ram for an angle dozer wherein the hydraulic ram. is mounted'between .the tractor and some'portion'of the: angle-dozer blade or blade frame.

Another objectof this invention is to "provide a gimbal .arrangement for a hydraulic 'ram for -an 'angle dozer .wherein thegirnbal arrangementrprovides adequate support .under theextreme load conditions encountered. in

the use and operation-=of such an earth-moving machine. 1 It is anotherobject. of the present inventionto provide a gimbal arrangement fora hydraulic ram .for an angle .dozer wherein the hydraulic ram and gimbal arrangernent'may-be easily removedfrom andreplaced-on the tractor.

Other'objects .and features of' the present invention will-be apparent uponperusal'of the following-specification and drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a side-plan view ofanangleidozer embody- .ing the present invention;

Figure'2 is an elevational view, partlyin cross section, taken along the line 22-ot Figure l;

;Figure 3 is .a top-elevational view, partly'in crosst'section, of the structure shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of. the structure shown in Figure 3. and taken along theline4-4.

The present embodiment is :the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodimentby one skilledintheart without departing from the spiritand scope ofthis invention.

For a detailed description of thepresent invention, reference is madeto the drawings.

In the present embodiment, the invention isshown as mounted to a crawler-type tractor- 10. ..The angle dozer for the tractor comprises a blade '11 --adjusta-bly mounted to a supporting frame 12 which is, in turn, pivotally mounted on the tractor 10 by means oil-pivotal mounting means 13. T o :raise and lowerthe angle dozer,

a hydraulic ram 14,-formed in duplicate portions disposed on each side of the tractor 10, isprovided. This invention is concerned with the particular mounting of the hydraulic ram 14 to the tractor 10.

Since the gimbal arrangement on eachside of the tractor'10 is substantially identical, only one side need be described in detail. The portion of the gimbal arrangement fixedly mounted tothetractoriltlPcomp'rises a particularly formed castinglS. The casting 15 is generally tubular, and each portion thereof, disposed on each side of the tractor 10, is interconnected by a transverse tubular member 16, shown in Figure 2. The outer end of the casting 15 is provided with a bearing 17. of. a relatively large diameter. Some distance inwardlytherefrom, the end of the tubular member .16 is provided'with a provided with a pair of openings. projected through the pair of. openings ineach bearing bearing 18. .tBetween,the bearings- 17..and.18,-the casting 15zis1 formed :to: comprise .ithe femaleyzportion:19iof a .:bayonet-type connection. formed as-an. opening, :or: slot, of twowparallel sides 20 andstwo arcuate' sides 21. The *two parallel sides 20.-are

The female xportion 219i is spaced apart-adistance slightly less than .thewoutersdiameter of the bearing 18, and an arcuate. notch"v 22 is formed in each parallel side 20 to present an opening-of a-size sufficientto permitwinsertionof the bearing 18,.through thetouteriend of thecasting 15. .The female-portion 19 ;is further formed'to have 'inclined.surfaces 40-.extending from .each of the paralleL-sides -20 outwardlysto the inner edge of thebearing 17.

The male portion of the bayonettype. connection for the ;gimbali.arrangement,'is designated with. the numeral '23. 'The male portion 23comprisesa U-shaped yoke section 24. -.-Thelegs of the yoke section'24 are spaced apart a distance. greaterthan the diameter of the hydraulic ram 14, and-ends of the .legs of theU-ishaped yoke 24 are formed as one-halfvof abearing 25. To form a complete hearing at the end of each leg of the U-shaped-yoke24, .apair of bearing. blocks 26. are provided. Theibearing blocks .26. comprise one-half of a-.bearingmatching the half of the bearing: 25. The-.endcof each leg of the U-shaped'yoke 24 :is tapped, and; each bearing block 26 is A pair'of bolts are block 26.-and threaded. intov thev ends of %the legs of the U -shaped yoke: 24. to. formtwo complete bearings 1 spaced along a commonaxis. The *male portion 23-isfurther formed to have a shaft 27 thereonaand extending from the cross piece of the U-shaped yoke 24. Thesha'ft 27 is formed to comprise three.-sections: a relatively large bearing-section 28, a locking andretainingwmember :29 and a reduced bearing section 30. The bearing'section '28 is of a-diameter and length-sufficient to permita journalling thereof within bearing 17, and the bearing section 30 is of a diameter and length to permit journalling thereof within bearing- 18. The locking and retaining section is formed as two'straight parallel sides 31.and

two arcuate sides 32. The two straight parallel sides 31 are spaced apart a small'amountless than the distance between parallel sides 20 of the casting 15. The two arcuate' sides 32 of the-locking and retaining-section 29 have a curvature'substantially equal to the curvature of the curved sides 21 of the casting 15,*and arespacedapart a small amount less than the distance between the-arcuate side 21 of the casting 15.

The'hydraulic ram 14 comprises-a cylindrical head portion 33 and a piston rod 34. The head portion 33 of the hydraulic ram 14 is providedwith a collar '35-Which. is fixedly :mounted thereabout. The collar 35 is provided with a pair of stub'shafts 36' which are axially aligned. The stub shafts 36 have a .diameter sufficient tozpermit journalling within the bearings in .thelegs of .the uashaped yoke24.

Inthe assembly. ofthe various described members-of the present invention, theshaft. 27 of male element-.23 is inserted into the casting 15 .with.:the straight parallel side 31 parallel to the parallel sides 20;. and when the bearing section 30 is journalled within the bearing 18 and the locking andretaining member 29 iswithinthe section 19, the male. element .23: isrotated through an angle approximately. to the position shown in thedrawings to lock the male element 23 against axial movement ofthe shaft 27. It can easily be seen that while locked against axial .movement, rotation. of the .male element '23 through an angle of approximately is permitted. The. stub shafts36 of the collar 35 are positionable within the bearing section of the U-shaped yoke 24 and the bearing blocks 26 are mounted on the remainder of the stub shafts '36 to complete the gimbal arrangement for the hydraulic ram 14. The piston rod 34 of the hydraulic ram 14 is pivotally Connected to the supporting frame 12.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an angle dozer having a tractor and having a forwardly extending blade assembly pivotally mounted on said tractor a hydraulic ram, means mounting the cylinder of said hydraulic ram against any movement along a transverse horizontal axis to said tractor while providing for a certain range of pivotal movement of said hydraulic ram about said axis, said means further formed to release said cylinder from said tractor when said cylinder is pivoted to a certain position beyond said range, said certain range of a certain amount and said means positioned on said tractor and said cylinder so that when the piston of said hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to said blade assembly said range coincides with g the increment of pivotal movement of said cylinder as said hydraulic ram is operated to raise and lower said blade assembly through the entire operating range of said blade assembly, and said means further positioned on said tractor and said cylinder so that said cylinder attains said certain position when saidtcylinder is pivoted beyond said increment. p

2. In an angle dozer having a tractor and having a forwardly extending blade assembly pivotally mounted on said tractor, a hydraulic ram, a gimbal arrangement for mounting the cylinder of said hydraulic ram to said tractor, said gimbal arrangement comprising a tubular female element having one member of a bayonet joint formed therein and having a pair of bearings mounted therein with the axis of rotation thereof positioned substantially horizontally and transversely of said tractor, a male element pivotally mounted to the cylinder of said hydraulic ram and having the other member of said bayonet joint formed on a shaft, said male element positioned within said bearings with said members of said bayonet joint cooperating to prevent any movement of said male element along said transverse horizontal axis to said tractor while providing for a certain'range of pivotal movement of said hydraulic ram about said axis,

said members of said bayonet joint further cooperating to release said cylinder from said tractor when said cylinder is pivoted to a certain position beyond said range, said certain range of a certain amount and said female element positioned on said tractor and said male element positioned on said cylinder so that when the piston of said hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to said blade assembly said range coincides with the increment of pivotal movement of said cylinder as said hydraulic ram is operated to raise and lower said blade assembly through the entire operating range of said blade assembly, and so that said cylinder obtains said certain position when said cylinder is pivoted beyond said increment.

3. In an angle dozer having a tractor and having a forwardly extending blade assembly pivotally mounted on said tractor, a hydraulic ram, a gimbal arrangement for mounting the cylinder of said hydraulic ram to said tractor, said gimbal arrangement comprising a tubular female casting mounted on said tractor, said casting provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced bearings mounted therein, the outer one of said bearings formed to be substantially larger than the inner one of said bearings, said casting formed to have a slot positioned between said bearings, a male element comprising a yoke and a shaft formed to extend therefrom, said shaft journalled in said bearings, a retaining member, said retaining member positioned on said shaft inwardly of said slot, said yoke pivotally mounted to said cylinder, said slot and said retaining member formed so that said male element is locked against any movement along the longitudinal axis of said casting while providing for a certain range of pivotal movement of said hydraulic ram about said axis, said slot and said retainingmember further formed to release said cylinder from said tractor when said cylinder is pivoted to a certain point beyond said range, said certain range being of a certain amount and said female positioned on said tractor and said malet element positioned on said cylinder so that when the piston of said hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to said blade assembly said range coincides with the increment of pivotal movement of said cylinder as said hydraulic ram is operated to raise and lower said blade assembly through the entire operating range of said blade assembly, and so that said cylinder attains said certain point when said cylinder is pivoted beyond said increment.

4. In an angle dozer having a tractor and having a forwardly extending blade assembly pivotally mounted on said tractor, a pair of hydraulic rams, means mounting the cylinders of said hydraulic rams on opposite sides of said tractor against any movement along a transverse horizontal axis to said tractor while providing for a certain 1 range of pivotal movement of each of said hydraulic rams about said axis, said means further formed to release said cylinders from said tractor when each of said cylinders are pivoted to a certain position beyond said range, said certain range being of a certain amount and said means positioned on said tractor and said cylinders so that when the pistons of said hydraulic rams are pivotally connected to said blade assembly said range coincides with the increment of pivotal movement of each of said cylinders as said hydraulic rams are operated to raise and lower said blade assembly through the entire operating range of said blade assembly, and said means further positioned so that said cylinders attain said certain position when said cylinders are pivoted beyond said increments.

5. In an angle dozer having a tractor and having a forwardly extending blade assembly'pivotally mounted on said tractor, a pair of hydraulic rams, a tube mounted on said tractor and extending substantially transversely thereof, a gimbal arrangement for mounting each of said hydraulic rams to said tractor, said gimbal arrangement comprising a pair of tubular female elements, each of said female elements having a pair of spaced apart bearings formed therein and formed to have a slot positioned between said bearings, each of said female elements mounted on one end of said tube with said bearings positioned along said transverse axis, said gimbal arrangement further comprising a pair of male elements, each of said male elements formed to have a shaft extending therefrom, each of said male elements pivotally mounted to one of thecylinders of said hydraulic rams, said shaft of each of said male elements journalled in one pair of said bearings, a retaining member formed on each of said shafts and positioned within one of said slots, said slots and said retaining members formed to cooperate so that each of the cylini being of a certain amount and said female elements posi- UNITED STATES PATENTS 88,863 Finley Apr. 13, 1869 9,907 Ross Oct. 29, 1940 2,379,984 Nereaux July 10, 1945 2,624,131 Rockwell Jan. 6, 1953 

